FIDH, ADHOC and LICADHO Joint press release

 

Joint press release

Cambodia/ECCC

ECCC: Call for transparency and independence of proceedings in Cases 003 and 004, and for an effective implementation of victims’ rights to participate

http://www.fidh.org/ECCC-Call-for-transparency-and

 

Paris, Phnom Penh, 4 August 2011 – As the 10th session of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) Plenary concluded yesterday, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisations in Cambodia, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights (LICADHO), express their shared concern regarding indications of political interference and a disturbing lack of transparency in Cases 003 and 004 before the ECCC. The ECCC cannot achieve a “restor[ation of] the trust in the courts that was destroyed during the period of the Democratic Kampuchean regime”, as Judge Silvia Cartwright, Vice-President of the ECCC Plenary, called for in her opening speech on 1 August 2011, if its proceedings are not viewed as independent, fair and transparent.

We recall that on 29 April 2011, the two Co-Investigating Judges announced that their investigation in Case 003 was concluded. Although not named by the ECCC, the identities of the two former officials suspected in Case 003 have been widely reported as being Khmer Rouge air force commander Sou Met and navy commander Meas Muth. While Case 004, involving three individuals, is currently open, it faces a similar premature end. Senior Cambodian government officials, including the Prime Minister, have publicly and repeatedly opposed pursuing Cases 003 and 004, claiming that prosecution of these cases would lead to civil unrest.

FIDH, ADHOC and LICADHO are deeply concerned that the Co-Investigating Judges concluded their work without having properly investigated suspects in Case 003 and that there are indications that they will apply the same approach in Case 004. The suspects in these cases were not interviewed. The Co-Investigating Judges did not visit any of the crime sites. Indeed, as the Co-Investigating Judges themselves acknowledged in February 2011, “the work [of the Co-Investigating Judges] at present is focused on examining and analyzing […] the existing documents in the previous Case Files 001 and 002. Therefore, at this stage, no field investigation is being conducted.”

Our organisations also regret that the investigation in Case 003 was closed before victims had the possibility to properly participate in this investigative phase; the Co-Investigating Judges did not interview any witnesses. A lack of transparency on the true scope and nature of the investigation, as well as a lack of proactive investigative measures to interview potential victims and witnesses, did not allow victims to share their testimonies or to otherwise participate in the proceedings in any meaningful way.

“As the trial phase in Case 002 is about to begin in a few weeks, it is unfortunate that before this hybrid tribunal, which has an innovative scheme for victims participation as civil parties, victims in Cases 003 and 004 do not appear to have the same rights as victims participating in Case 001 and in Case 002,” said Mr. Patrick Baudouin, FIDH Honorary President and legal representative of victims before the ECCC in Case 002.

It is noted, with interest, that the International Co-Prosecutor concluded that the crimes alleged in his Introductory Submission of September 2009 had not been fully investigated. He submitted on 9 May 2011 and again on 10 June 2011 a request for further investigative actions to be undertaken by the Co-Investigating Judges as well as a request to extend the deadline for filing Civil Party Applications in Case 003. On 16 June 2011, he filed another request for further investigative actions in Case 004. We also note that several international staff members of the Office of the Co-Investigating Judges resigned several weeks ago, in protest of this apparent lack of will to conduct proper and thorough investigations.

Our organisations call on:

Arthur Manet: +33 6 72 28 42 94 / +33 1 43 55 90 19

Karine Appy: +33 6 48 05 91 57 / +33 1 43 55 14 12

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